London map showing best primary school results with every borough ranked in order

A new postcode lottery for primary school attainment has been laid bare, with London's schools dominating the top of the national league tables and highlighting a significant and growing educational divide across England. The latest figures from the Department for Education for the 2024/25 academic year reveal that London has cemented its place as the country's academic powerhouse, with its pupils outperforming their peers in every other region.

The data shows that a remarkable 68% of Year 6 pupils in London met the expected standards in reading, writing, and maths combined. This is a considerable jump above the national average of 62% and places the capital well ahead of the next-highest performing regions, the North East and South East, which both achieved 61%. At the other end of the scale, the East of England and the South West languished with the lowest proportions at just 59%, showcasing a stark geographical disparity in educational outcomes.

The dominance of the capital is even more pronounced when examining individual local authorities. London councils swept the top 14 spots nationally, with Hackney and Hammersmith and Fulham leading the charge. Both boroughs saw 76% of their Year 6 pupils achieve the expected standards in all three core subjects. They are followed closely by Richmond upon Thames (74%) and a group of boroughs including Waltham Forest, Redbridge, and Kensington and Chelsea (all 73%).

While London celebrates its success, the picture outside the capital is far more mixed. Trafford stands out as the highest-performing local authority outside of London, with 70% of its pupils meeting the standards. However, its close neighbour, Manchester, is among the lowest-ranking areas in the country, with only 55% of pupils reaching the same level, mirroring the wider regional imbalance.

The figures underscore a persistent "postcode lottery" for literacy and numeracy skills, where a child's chances of success are heavily influenced by their address. This is further highlighted by the stark contrast between the best and worst-performing local authorities. At the bottom of the rankings are areas like Central Bedfordshire, where only 50% of pupils met the expected standards, and the Isle of Wight at 51%. These figures paint a grim picture, with half of the children in these areas failing to meet key educational benchmarks.

Despite the disparities, the national trend shows a slow but steady recovery from the pandemic's impact on education. The national average of 62% for the 2024/25 academic year is a slight improvement from 61% in the previous year and 59% in 2021/22. However, this progress is still not enough to match the pre-pandemic levels of 65% achieved in 2018/19, suggesting a long road ahead to full recovery.

The Department for Education's report provides crucial data for parents, educators, and policymakers, revealing the areas where focused intervention is most needed. The data confirms that while some regions are thriving, a significant portion of the country's youth is being left behind, deepening the call for a national strategy to close the educational divide and ensure every child, regardless of their location, has an equal opportunity to succeed.